Angela Rayner says she has been cleared by HMRC over tax affairs

Angela Rayner, the former Deputy Prime Minister, has announced that HMRC has cleared her of any wrongdoing concerning her tax matters. In a statement released on Thursday, she expressed that she felt "exonerated" from the accusations claiming that she had "deliberately sought to avoid tax."

Rayner's resignation from her position in September 2025 followed her acknowledgment of underpayment of stamp duty on her £800,000 flat located in Hove.

Considered a possible contender against Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer amid the Labour Party's recent local election challenges, Rayner used an interview with the Guardian to address her political future. While she did not dismiss the idea of participating in a Labour leadership contest, she clarified she would not "trigger" such a race.

"I'll play my part in doing everything we possibly can to deliver the change, because it's not a personal ambition; I know the difference it makes," she stated.

The announcement regarding HMRC's clearance of Rayner's tax affairs was first reported by the Guardian and ITV News on Thursday morning.

Reflecting on the circumstances surrounding her resignation, Rayner remarked to the Guardian that the public may have incorrectly perceived her actions as an attempt to avoid tax or being reckless. "Whereas now hopefully people can see that actually it's a really complex area of law," she commented.

In her official statement, Rayner affirmed, "I have always sought to act with integrity, and I believe politicians should be held to high standards - that is why I resigned from government and cooperated fully with HMRC."

During her conversation with ITV News journalist Paul Brand, Rayner welcomed HMRC's conclusion, emphasizing that it confirmed she had not engaged in any wrongdoing or acted carelessly regarding her tax obligations.

Previously, the prime minister’s ethics adviser acknowledged that while Rayner "acted with integrity," she had violated the ministerial code. He noted that she had obtained legal advice when purchasing the property but had overlooked seeking additional expert tax advice as recommended.

In the wake of increased scrutiny surrounding Rayner's tax arrangements, her team initially asserted that she had fulfilled her tax payment obligations. However, following heightened media scrutiny, they sought counsel from a senior lawyer.

Upon receiving the lawyer's evaluation, Rayner recognized that she had underpaid her tax when acquiring her East Sussex flat, attributing the oversight to her belief that it was her only property.

However, due to the intricate arrangements linked to a trust for her disabled son, the Hove flat was classified as her second home, necessitating an additional £40,000 in stamp duty. Following this realization, Rayner proactively contacted HMRC to clarify the outstanding tax amount and self-referred for an investigation by the prime minister's standards adviser.